Detroit Michigan Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Detroit, MI (the Detroit-Warren-Livonia metro area) was $962 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Detroit was $979 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Detroit median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Detroit rental vacancy rates, Detroit rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Detroit.
Real Gross Rent in Detroit Michigan (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Michigan Median Gross Rent | $888 | +1.25% | +3.62% |
| Detroit, MI Median Gross Rent | $962 | +1.91% | +3.66% |
Detroit, MI Real Gross Rent Trends
At $962, real median gross rent in Detroit was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $979, real average gross rent in Detroit was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Detroit: Detroit MI Median, Detroit MI Average, Michigan Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Detroit
| Date | US Median |
Michigan Median |
Detroit, MI Median |
Detroit, MI Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $888 | $962 | $979 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $877 | $944 | $955 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $861 | $926 | $950 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $857 | $928 | $935 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $852 | $924 | $932 |
| 2014 | $986 | $832 | $901 | $913 |
| 2013 | $953 | $809 | $873 | $898 |
| 2012 | $940 | $796 | $865 | $884 |
| 2011 | $941 | $798 | $869 | $883 |
| 2010 | $955 | $816 | $886 | $902 |
| 2009 | $960 | $816 | $892 | $920 |
| 2007 | $927 | $802 | $872 | $892 |
| 2005 | $910 | $819 | $895 | $911 |
Detroit Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Detroit Michigan was 5.42% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Detroit Michigan
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Michigan | 5.56% | +0.74% | +0.15% |
| Detroit, MI | 5.42% | +0.99% | -0.06% |
Trends in Detroit, MI Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Detroit peaked in 2006 at 11.25%. Since then it has fallen by 5.83% to 5.42%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2018 post peak low of 4.43%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.99%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Detroit MI, Michigan, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Detroit
| Date | US | Michigan | Detroit, MI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 5.56% | 5.42% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 4.82% | 4.43% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 4.87% | 4.95% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.41% | 5.48% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.19% | 4.89% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 5.88% | 6.15% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 6.04% | 6.34% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.73% | 7.15% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 7.72% | 8.42% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 9.60% | 10.18% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 9.48% | 11.05% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 9.66% | 10.76% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 10.09% | 9.59% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Detroit, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Detroit, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 18.19% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Detroit Michigan Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Michigan | 17.88% | -0.34% | -0.82% |
| Detroit, MI | 18.19% | -0.20% | -0.75% |
Trends in Detroit, MI Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Detroit household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2010 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.74%. Since then it has fallen by 1.56% to 18.19%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Detroit MI, Michigan, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Detroit Michigan
| Date | US | Michigan | Detroit, MI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.88% | 18.19% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.22% | 18.38% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.25% | 18.45% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.70% | 18.94% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.86% | 19.49% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 18.97% | 19.51% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.09% | 19.18% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.16% | 19.39% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.29% | 19.73% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.29% | 19.74% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.99% | 19.36% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.09% | 16.95% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.07% | 16.92% |
Renter Fraction in Detroit Michigan
You can calculate the renter fraction in Detroit in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Detroit as a fraction of total Detroit households. In 2019 30.38% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Detroit Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Michigan | 28.43% | -0.38% | -1.25% |
| Detroit, MI | 30.38% | -0.49% | -2.00% |
Trends in the Detroit, MI Renter Fraction
The Detroit household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 32.38% and is now 2.00% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Detroit MI, Michigan, US
History of Detroit Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Michigan | Detroit, MI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 28.43% | 30.38% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 28.81% | 30.87% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 28.67% | 31.11% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 29.68% | 32.38% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 29.58% | 31.96% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 29.76% | 31.98% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 29.45% | 31.41% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 28.94% | 30.95% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 28.26% | 29.92% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 27.25% | 28.82% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 26.81% | 27.96% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 25.17% | 25.68% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 25.33% | 26.42% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
